Members of the Warsaw Common Council heard a lot of information from the Ride+Walk Committee about a Safe Streets for All grant application and had many questions about it, but after 75 minutes of discussion, the council voted to let city officials apply for up to $500,000.
The Warsaw Traffic Commission voted March 5 to recommend the grant application to the council.
Fred Helfrich, representing the committee, opened up the discussion by telling the council the committee was there to appeal to the council to approve the grant application for a cycle track of “some description” through downtown Warsaw. The route’s when, where and how are to be determined. The grant is a 80/20 matching grant, and a local foundation has agreed to cover the 20% required by the grant.
Nate Callithen, committee member, said they’ve met with individual council members to go over the proposal and it has changed a little bit since some of the council members saw it.
“We took out all the design and engineering work that we had done, of it going down Market Street, and so you might see that it’s a little bit shorter now,” he said. “What we’re asking from the council is permission to seek this grant, and through that grant we would then do more design, engineering and discussions on the route, what this would look like. So all the details are still to be figured out, so we just want the approval of council to even entertain even pursing this grant.”
There are two types of grants under the program, but Callithen said they’re going after the Planning & Demonstration grant.
“These are activities that will be funded to do engineering, design work, planning, temporary demonstration projects that use inexpensive materials. And the idea behind these grants are to inform the municipality applying for them what long-term solution they should be seeking when they go out and fund that long-term solution,” he said.
The grant funding would help show the city what a multimodal trail would look like through downtown, as well as answer any questions about such a trail.
“Through this grant, the city would have full control over what the actual implementation would look like for this feasibility study,” Callithen said.
Councilman Juergen Voss asked what the breakdown of the $500,000 grant would be. Callithen said engineering would cost between $60,000 and $100,000. Estimates for paint, bollards and signage would be an additional $100,000. They then doubled that total to account for any price increases or unforeseen costs they were not aware of.
Voss asked what the scope of the project would be - where it would begin and end. Callithen said that would have be to determined but the council would have input on that.
There was some concern from council members about the impact on safety a bike route would have through the downtown. Callithen said a safety was a priority for them.
Councilwoman Diane Quance asked who the grant recipient would be. Callithen said the city would be.
Mayor Jeff Grose said Ride+Walk doesn’t have the ability to apply for a grant and handle the funding. Callithen said the only people who can apply for grants are municipalities or state governments, so that’s why Ride+Walk can’t do it on behalf of the city. The city will have to do the application, but Ride+Walk and the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) will assist as much as possible.
Helfrich pointed out that Ride+Walk is under the mayor’s office and is a group of stakeholders. The committee has no money and is no entity as such, it’s a loose affiliation and advisory board.
Responding to a question from Councilman Josh Finch about a timeline, Callithen said they’ll have five years from receiving the funds to use them.
Speaking in favor of the grant application were parent Maria Demopoulos, teacher Alexi Demopoulos, Village at Winona Managing Director Nick Hauck, attorney Travis McConnell and even Callithen’s wife.
Samuel Lord, 23, told the council he moved to Winona Lake in June for a job from Pittsburgh.
“As a younger individual that looks at downtown, I think that adding this type of opportunity for cycling, running is going to add a lot of different economic stimulus from individuals that don’t want to drive. I think you can look at almost every other city - when you have the ability to bike somewhere, it just brings a different kind of (vibe) to the area. People are more engaged to hang out outside, enjoy the environment a little bit,” he stated.
He said the city has provided a great avenue to the downtown, but wrapping up the last section of the trail through the downtown would be a great opportunity.
“I grew up in walking school district where we walked and biked everywhere, so this is all very foreign to me where you drive like five miles to your buddy’s house. That is not a thing where I grew up,” Lord said.
Dave Crisi said he moved here about 10 years ago and has worked for two of the larger orthopedic companies in the area.
“One of the biggest challenges that we have, getting people to come here to work, younger folks, is that a lot of folks feel like they’re not sure if it’s the right place for them. Hearing from some of the younger folks in the community that these are the type of things that they want, that they’re looking for, helps us from an organization standpoint to be able to attract talent as well. So from that perspective ... this is one of the things that is important to me, important to some of the folks that I know,” he said.
Eventually, Councilman Mike Klondaris and Quance formulated the motion to give Grose approval to pursue the grant, and the council approved it 6-0, with Councilman Jerry Frush absent.
In other business, the council:
• Had a public hearing for the proposed annexation of Crouse’s Leasing Property, about an acre, south of CR 250N and west of Boeing Road. No one spoke for or against it.
The council then heard the fiscal plan from Warsaw Community and Economic Development Director Jeremy Skinner and approved the resolution for the fiscal plan for the voluntary annexation. At the next council meeting April 7, the council will be presented with the first reading of the annexation ordinance, with the second reading after that.
• Approved on first reading an ordinance issuing tax increment bonds, from the Northern Residential TIF district, for Belle Augusta phase 5 subdivision infrastructure, as requested by Skinner. The Redevelopment Commission was awarded $1,055,000 from the state’s Residential Infrastructure Fund bond program for the subdivision. A bond will be executed for the loan, but the state will purchase the loan. The second reading will be held April 7. The Redevelopment Commission approved the paying of the bonds on Monday.
• Approved on first reading an ordinance authorizing the issuance of bonds for the Millworks project, as requested by Skinner. The Millworks project, where the former Owen’s grocery store was located on Market Street, will include over 80 apartment units and include retail and commercial space. It’s about a $20-$25 million project. The bond issuance will not exceed $4.5 million and will be paid for by the revenue generated by the development itself. The developer is buying the bond.
• Approved on second reading, the stormwater management ordinance amendments ordinance. The council approved it on first reading at their last meeting.